We're not skivers, say workers based at home

People who work at home are more productive than their office-based colleagues, a report has claimed.

A survey of 3,000 adults showed a homeworker spent an average of seven hours a day on work, with 15 per cent putting in 10 or more.

Most of those polled said people who worked from home were being unfairly tagged as skivers.

The survey was published to mark today's national Work From Home Day, being publicised by a group promoting "smarter" working practices.

Work Wise UK said that just one day at home each week would have a huge impact on traffic congestion and overcrowding on public transport while improving productivity and employees' well-being.

Work Wise chief executive Phil Flaxton said: "For many employees, there is absolutely no reason to waste hours commuting into a central location every day of the week."

Mark Bishop, from insurance company Cornhill Direct, which carried out the survey, said: "Whenever someone says they work from home, many people immediately think of long lie-ins, daytime TV and an early finish but this survey proves this is far from the truth.

"People who work from home often get more done than people back in the office because they feel under extra pressure to prove they are working hard."